Halloween- Preschool Party.

Mommy and Gavin got to join Kylie for her Halloween party at school. It was so cute seeing Ky and all of her classmates dressed up. Halloween is so fun!

Gav was super pumped to go terrorize play at preschool again and wouldn't stand still for a photo.

My little rainbow girl looking very colorful!

Rainbow Girl and most of her classmates!

Ready to go get candy from the church offices!

Back in the classroom, Gav made himself right at home at the train table.

In the activity room the kids got to play musical chairs...

And the last 2 remaining. Neither Rainbow Girl nor Little Bo Peep look very pumped about their victorious round of musical chairs... I think it may have something to do with the fact that the ousted players got a prize!

To Gavin, preschool is pretty much the best thing since sliced bread. I mean, c'mon, where else can you play with a never-ending supply of toys, lots of other kids, and refresh yourself with an oreo and a juice box. Life is good.

My girl enjoying her snack with her fellow classmates. :)

Fall Pics.

October is such a good month. I was dying to get the fam together for some pics with all of the beautiful leaves and colors. Thankfully, they were very cooperative... and we all enjoyed our little evening at the park!

I love all of these photos!

Can't get over how grown up my little girl is starting to look!

And this little guy, too!

My people... (how lucky am I?!)

Thank you to Matt for this little gem of me with my babies (sigh)!

Me with my favorite girl...

And my favorite little guy...

Ky just had to have her penguin in some photos. And, of course, smiled the most naturally in these! :)

Love this one...

Best friends...

My dimpled dude!

2 handsome gents!

Our babes :)

My girl loves Fall.

Getting so big so fast.

I love this girl.

Click to see more clearly the pure joy that comes with playing in the leaves. :)

Schneider Fest '10

We had a great time hanging out with (most of) the Schneider clan a few weekends ago. It's always so fun to get all of the little ones together. They are so close in age and just have a great time!

Abbie and Gav playing with the stones while the bigger kids paint their pumpkins.

Hay ride!!

Kylie loved the hay ride!

And Gavin loved the popsicles!

Nature walk.

Here are some photos from our family nature walk the other day.

I have fond childhood memories of taking a "nature walk" every fall. Our walks were a little different though; we would all load into the manure spreader and dad would pull us back into the woods on grandpa's ancient tractor. :) Dad would point out all the tree names and we would collect leaves.

I want to continue this tradition with my kids, but knew I had some work to do when Kylie immediately asked for my iphone so that she could "play games"! UGH. "No, you can't play games on my phone... we're on a nature walk, enjoy nature!!" It didn't take her long to appreciate the beauty around her, though. She quickly began pointing out squirrels, collecting acorns and talking about the colorful leaves!

Looking at the "river" under the bridge.

Kylie putting leaves in her bag. We stuck some tape to her stroller so she could collect other little nature things (flowers, sticks, acorns, etc).

18 months and rolling...

I know I say the same things at each new stage... but seriously, where does the time go???

My little sweet man turned 18 months 2 days ago and mommy is having a hard time accepting this. I just can't believe that he is now closer to 2 and that he really isn't a baby anymore, but now a toddler!! Eek!

This little boy brings so much activity and fun and a little bit of chaos to our house and we wouldn't know what to do without him!

He's been MIA from my camera recently. This is a challenging age to photograph since they are so busy and can't be bothered with looking at a camera. However, I was determined to capture him at this stage so we had a little fun photo shoot the other day. I'm so glad we did because I love these photos. This is so Gavo at 18 months!

His big, teethy, dimply grin melts my heart!

When he was born the first thing daddy noticed were his dimples and I couldn't believe how wide his mouth was on that little face. I knew he would have a huge smile.

His frankenstein walk is starting to become a little more graceful but he still waddles with his arms up!

And I just had to include these last two photos. Poor little dude falls about 30 times a day...29 of those times he manages to hit his head (I may start making him wear a helmet during all awake hours), so this is a very real moment in the life of Gavin.

Completely happy and unaware of what he is about to do...

(That darn wheel jumped out and grabbed him)

And BOOM!

He was actually fine this time. He is usually a bit of a drama king (aren't all men?!), but this time he jumped right up and brushed off the pine needles and continued on his way.

At 18 months, Gavin:

*LOVES his big sister (calls her "didi"- sissy)

*Is starting to figure out how to annoy/bother/irritate/get a rise out of big sister

*Is still a cuddlebug

*Gives kisses with a very exaggerated "muuuuaaaah" sound

*Loves Carmen and all dogs (daw-dees)

*Loves to play outside... loves to kick balls, play on the scooter, go for wagon rides, play at the park, etc.

*Meal-time is still his favorite part of the day and I think he would be totally content sitting in his highchair and grazing all day long

*Is a great eater- not picky at all

*Some favorite foods: BANANAS (we think he may be part monkey, he loves bananas so much and eats at least 2 a day), apples, pasta, cheese, broccoli, carrots, edamame, peas, strawberries, blueberries

*Is a huge milk drinker.

*Has a sweet tooth already... loves mommy's cookies

*Is a climber and has been for the last 6 months. He would climb on the kitchen table before he could walk. Has also pushed a chair into the laundry room so that he could climb onto the dryer and then attempt to climb onto the shelf on the wall (mission not accomplished... mommy found him).

*Loves throwing balls and playing catch

*Loves to wrestle with dad and does a pretend-play "ahhhh" sound when they play.

*Loves to play blocks and stack.

*Says thank you and bless you (in his own language but we know that is what he is saying because he says the same thing every time and in context).

*Loves to be read to.

*Loves bath time with Kylie.

*Is overly-dramatic at times.

*Screams at the top of his lungs to get our attention, when we give him the attention he calmly points to or tells us what he wants.

*Does not have much patience. He wants what he wants NOW!

*Loves his blue blankie and cuddles with it a lot.

*Loves to say "bye-eeee" to everyone in public (cashiers, waitresses, general public...)

*Loves seeing big trucks and buses.

*Gets soooo excited when he hears the garage door and knows that means daddy is home (he shouts "daadaaaa")

*Is still in the 90-95%ile for height and is tipping the scales (and breaking my back) at 28 pounds.

*Is mommy's little man :)